Seatbelt connector

ABSTRACT

A seatbelt connector has a seatbelt loop, a locking bar and a latch. The seatbelt loop has two ends. The locking bar is formed on one end of the seatbelt loop and has a tongue. The tongue has two locking protrusions formed oppositely on the tongue. The latch is formed on the other end of the seatbelt loop and has two wings. Each wing has a locking hole formed through the wing. The locking holes correspond respectively to and engage the locking protrusions on the tongue. After the locking holes connect to the locking protrusions, pulling and stretching the seatbelt connector will not disconnect the locking holes from the locking protrusions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a seatbelt connector, especially to a seatbelt connector for a seatbelt on a shopping cart.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Seatbelts are mounted on shopping carts for the safety of children riding in the shopping carts. Shopping carts are usually made of metal. The seatbelt are usually nonmetallic, especially nylon. Nylon seatbelts are detached easily from the metallic shopping carts, especially when children pull and stretch the seatbelts. The easy detachment is dangerous for children when children ride in the shopping carts.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a seatbelt connector to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a seatbelt connector for a seatbelt on a shopping cart. The seatbelt connector has a seatbelt loop, a locking bar and a latch. The seatbelt loop has two ends. The locking bar is formed on one end of the seatbelt loop and has a tongue. The tongue has two locking protrusions formed oppositely on the tongue. The latch is formed on the other end of the seatbelt loop and has two wings. Each wing has a locking hole formed through the wing. The locking holes correspond respectively to and engage the locking protrusions on the tongue. After the locking holes connect to the locking protrusions, pulling and stretching the seatbelt connector will not disconnect the locking holes from the locking protrusions.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seatbelt connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an operational top view of the seatbelt connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view in partial section of the seatbelt connector along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an operational perspective view of two seatbelt connectors in FIG. 1 attached to a seatbelt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, a seatbelt connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a seatbelt loop (10), a locking bar (20) and a latch (30).

The seatbelt loop (10) is flexible and has a stationary end and a moveable end.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the locking bar (20) is formed on stationary end of the seatbelt loop (10) and has a proximal end, a distal end (21) and a tongue (212). The proximal end has a front edge formed on the stationary end of the seatbelt loop (10). The distal end (21) may have a recessed opening (211). The recessed opening (211) is formed in the distal end (21). The tongue (212) is formed on and extends out of the distal end and the recessed opening (211), may be thinner than the distal end (21) and has a proximal end, a distal end, a top surface, a bottom surface, two locking protrusions (213) and four optional channels (214). The proximal end of the tongue (212) is formed on the distal end or in the recessed opening (211) on the distal end of the locking bar (20). The top surface has two side edges. The bottom surface has two side edges. The locking protrusions (213) are formed respectively on the top and bottom surfaces, and each locking protrusion (213) has an inclined surface. The inclined surface is formed on the locking protrusion (213) and faces the distal end of the tongue (212). Channels (214) are longitudinally formed respectively in the side edges of the top and bottom surfaces.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the latch (30) is formed on the moveable end of the seatbelt loop (10), is attached selectively to the tongue (212) and has a proximal end, a distal end and a pair of wings (31). The proximal end has a side formed on the moveable end of the seatbelt loop (10). The wings (31) are formed oppositely on the distal end of the latch (30) and correspond respectively to the top and bottom surfaces of the tongue (212). Each wing (32) has two side edges, a locking hole (312) and two optional longitudinal lips (311). The locking hole (312) is formed through the wing (31) and corresponds to and selectively connects to the locking protrusion (213) on the tongue (212). The longitudinal lips (311) are formed respectively in the side edges of the wing (31) and correspond to and selectively engage the channels (214) in the tongue (212).

With further reference to FIG. 4, a seatbelt (40) uses two seatbelt connectors to connect the seatbelt (40) to a shopping cart. Pulling the seatbelt will pull on the seatbelt connector. After the locking protrusions (213) connect to the locking holes (312), the locking protrusions (213) cannot disconnect from the locking holes (312) by pulling the seatbelt connector. Therefore the seatbelt connector will keep the seatbelt attached securely to the shopping cart.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A seatbelt connector comprising a seatbelt loop being flexible and having a stationary end and a moveable end; a locking bar formed on the seatbelt loop and having a proximal end having a front edge formed on the stationary end of the seatbelt loop; a distal end; and a tongue formed on and extending out of the distal end and having a proximal end formed on the distal end of the locking bar; a distal end; a top surface having two side edges; a bottom surface having two side edges; and two locking protrusions formed respectively on the top and bottom surfaces, and each locking protrusion having an inclined surface formed on the locking protrusion and facing the distal end of the tongue; and a latch formed on the moveable end of the seatbelt loop, attaching selectively to the tongue and having a proximal end having a side formed on the moveable end of the seatbelt loop; a distal end; and a pair of wings formed oppositely on the distal end of the latch, corresponding respectively to the top and bottom surfaces of the tongue, and each wing having two side edges; and a locking hole formed through the wing and corresponding to and selectively engaging the locking protrusion on the tongue.
 2. The seatbelt connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue has four channels longitudinally formed respectively in the side edges of the top and bottom surfaces of the tongue; and each wing has two longitudinal lips formed respectively in the side edges of the wing and corresponding to and selectively engaging the channels in the tongue.
 3. The seatbelt connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tongue is thinner than the distal end of the locking bar.
 4. The seatbelt connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tongue is thinner than the distal end of the locking bar. 